Members with cars who commute to work on cycle in winter - how do you do it?

[downfader]

I've ridden the past 2 winters fully (before I sometimes took the bus, but its become so unreliable and expensive its not an option any more). Last winter was fun -5C. Frost all over cars, drivers struggling to remove it as I gently rode past.

I just made sure I togged up. Layers on the body, hands. Hat under helmet. Windproof fabrics helped - on legs as well as knees. Decent tyres too.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I cycled this year in about 2 inches of snow, it was stupid but I wanted to prove a point. Will I do it this year , not likely as it only takes someone in a car to lose control and yer finished. Doesn't matter about studded tyres etc they aint going to protect you!

I've done all weathers for over 30 years, I've only missed when ill or on holiday, I don't remember it getting to the stage where its been impossible to ride, well not yet anyway.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Depends how far you travel and on what roads but for me no chance will I do what I did earlier this year in the snow. Ice tyres or no ice tyres. I ain't no martyr and there is no special prize for making it into work in crap weather. ;-)

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I've never used ice tyres, I've always ridden whatever tyres are on the bike, I rode all weathers because I had to, no other way to get to work most of the time, my present commute is a 13 mile round trip.

 

[MrGrumpy]

30 miles for me but rural for most and then you hit Edinburgh :s

 

[Cupra]

My commute in the car is 10 mins or 18 mins on the bike I do however have to do the commute 4 times a day as I am on split shifts. I do more riding when I am off than my 6 mile each way commute when I am at work.
I just see it as extra points towards my weekly goals.

 

[buggi]

keeps coughs and colds at bay if you cycle thro the winter. 3 weeks off the bike and i always get a chest infection, so i try not to have a break. Last year fell off, had a break for about a month, got a chest infection i couldn't shake off and ended up with bronchitis before that, hadn't been ill for 3 years.. Not even a sniff of a cold.
my theory is... The amount of snot i dump in the road, germs don't have a chance to take hold LOL

 

[slowmotion]

As others have said, it really gets on my wires if I can't ride to work and have to take the van. As soon as I get home, I have this terrible urge to go out and pedal, even if it's only for a couple of miles, no matter how late it is. It assuages some kind of weird guilt or something. Five years ago, the very idea of riding a bike would have been ludicrous to me. Strange really.

 

[Plax]

Reading this thread puts me to shame. I used to regularly cycle to work come rain or shine everyday (I used to actually go out in the rain when I was bored just to cycle through all the puddles, had to be warmish rain though!). As soon as I woke up I used to immediately jump out of bed to look out the window to decide what cycling gear I was going to wear. Now I wake up, press snooze 5 times, drag myself out of bed and the thought of cycling doesn't even cross my mind. I am going to have to make more of a concerted effort!

 

[Mike!]

As long as I'm fit and don't need the car for something during the day or after work (very rare) I cycle whatever the weather is doing. It's only 5 miles each way and I can take all bus route (so it's gritted) if it has snowed too so that never stops me either.

Always feel better during the day when I've cycled in rather than by car

 

[RichK]

I've never found it a problem. Wearing the appropriate clothes helps a lot (I cant stand being cold so wold rather wear too many layers than not enough). However, I've had to agree with MrsK that I'll take the car this winter when it gets icy following a nasty fall last December Not looking forward to it at all.

 

[donnydave]

I love it when there's some extreme weather and I get to work on my trusty bike. Cold, wet, windy or all three, when I arrive at work it feels like you've poked Nature in the eye and run off giggling. Sounds a bit daft but somehow it reminds me that I'm actually a living organism that interacts with the environment, not just a blob that moves mindlessly from one indoors to the other. Everyone else gave up and drove but you stuck it out. Gives a nice sense of achievement, of self-reliance, you haven't just taken the "easy" way out (and everyone who drove in moan about getting wet whilst wobbling from the car to the door of the office!)

 

[HLaB]

Depends how far you travel and on what roads but for me no chance will I do what I did earlier this year in the snow. Ice tyres or no ice tyres. I ain't no martyr and there is no special prize for making it into work in crap weather. ;-)

Mileage is definitely a lot easier down here; I think you are in the bay IIRC but the Masterton Road downhill in the dark put me off a few times = train.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Yep not too bad from Bay but have done the commute in full on Blizzard and it was a very stupid idea ;-)

 

[hennbell]

Yep not too bad from Bay but have done the commute in full on Blizzard and it was a very stupid idea ;-)

As long as you are clothed correctly, have the right equipment (bike, lights, etc) and choose a route that balances traffic a blizzard can be handled. Wind speed and direction play a large part in the decision to ride or not. The good thing about a blizzard it that the cars slow down and pay much more attention.